2025 NBA Draft

[Splits]

Drew a picture for you

doesn't matter the actual measurements, with only 4 digits on dude's right hand his handle is going to suck

[Mr. Body]

Davis Bertans has entered the chat.

[SpursGenius]

This could get interesting. If we were to go with Maluach and a twin tower unit to protect the rim it makes me wonder how a Harper, Castle, Fox lineup works with that. I'd think we'd need a shooter in there somewhere. A fox, Harper, Kneupple or Fox, Castle, Kneupple lineup might make more sense.

rather have Brea than Kneupel. Also more gettable.

Harper Malauch, Brea as ther cbs mock draft suggested

[scott]

doesn't matter the actual measurements, with only 4 digits on dude's right hand his handle is going to suck

Don't matter how many figures this guy has when they're all the size of giant bratwurst

[scott]

Just saw this draft "evaluation" and it took me a minute but I think I agree...

"Ace Bailey is the Kevin Durant of Emoni Bates"

[Ice009]

He wasn't asking WHAT they were, he was asking which you thought was more important of the two.

Which do you think?

That's all I was asking (like you said, I knew what they were, I wasn't asking what they were). No need to get clowned for it (thanks for the picture, though, was very funny/creative). I'd assume wingspan is better for playing defense and standing reach for shot blocking and maybe rebounding. Just asking what people think it more important on those guys in the height ranges listed (6'7" to 6'9"). I don't have a great wingspan, so I have no clue what it's like playing with one.

I don't remember ever seeing an in depth discussion about it and how teams value that over just straight up regular height. I wonder if the Spurs or other teams really look at things like that.

Also, I don't believe height is that big of a deal when you have a huge wingspan. Some players seem to have longer necks and shorter wingspan, so maybe sometimes a shorter guy with a larger wingspan might be better as he can play bigger than his listed height (of course it depends on body shape/type too).

[scott]

That's all I was asking (like you said, I knew what they were, I wasn't asking what they were). No need to get clowned for it (thanks for the picture, though, was very funny/creative). I'd assume wingspan is better for playing defense and standing reach for shot blocking and maybe rebounding. Just asking what people think it more important on those guys in the height ranges listed (6'7" to 6'9"). I don't have a great wingspan, so I have no clue what it's like playing with one.

I don't remember ever seeing an in depth discussion about it and how teams value that over just straight up regular height. I wonder if the Spurs or other teams really look at things like that.

Also, I don't believe height is that big of a deal when you have a huge wingspan. Some players seem to have longer necks and shorter wingspan, so maybe sometimes a shorter guy with a larger wingspan might be better as he can play bigger than his listed height (of course it depends on body shape/type too).

One isn’t more important than the other. They are both one aspect of understanding a person’s body structure. If I just gave you the wingspan or just gave you the standing reach… those can mean very different things. It’s like asking “what’s more important to height… the length of the upper body or the length of the lower body?” They’re both important and give you the total picture. Height, wingspan and standing reach give you the ability to put the picture I drew together. Without any one of those things, you can draw the picture to look a lot of different ways.

When you piece all of them together, you essentially come up with a radius that a player can cover feasibly cover with his arms for any given location of his torso. You can come up with some comical examples of what it could look like if you had incomplete info.

So… which of wingspan or standing reach more important? Yes.

[jesterbobman]

Moving from the paint discussion, standing reach / max vert is probably more important for centres (rim protection), wingspan is more important for guards (dribble penetration, passing lanes, etc). I'd think 65:35 importance of standing reach: wingspan for centres, kind of the inverse for PGs (still want to defend a shot at the apex, but that's less frequent).

[SpursFan86]

Between the impressive combine showing + improved shooting down the stretch of this past season + fact he was super hyped going into this year, I could see Traore getting picked surprisingly high. Wouldn’t shock me if someone takes him in the lottery.

[Vienna]

CMB is all over the place in the mocks. from 9 to 29 (from what I saw). seems that he is trending north on some mocks. is there a reason? reports about strong work outs?

Ben Saraf had a pretty solid stretch of games in the German league play offs. in 5 games he had 14.8PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.6RPG. outside shot was still mediocre (33.3%), but FT % is quite impressive. 24-25FT (96%).
I think he is underrated on most mocks. good size (6'5" barefoot, 6'7.5" wingspan, 202 lbs). I think he will be picked in the late lottery.

[Ice009]

One isn’t more important than the other. They are both one aspect of understanding a person’s body structure. If I just gave you the wingspan or just gave you the standing reach… those can mean very different things. It’s like asking “what’s more important to height… the length of the upper body or the length of the lower body?” They’re both important and give you the total picture. Height, wingspan and standing reach give you the ability to put the picture I drew together. Without any one of those things, you can draw the picture to look a lot of different ways.

When you piece all of them together, you essentially come up with a radius that a player can cover feasibly cover with his arms for any given location of his torso. You can come up with some comical examples of what it could look like if you had incomplete info.

So… which of wingspan or standing reach more important? Yes.

Alright, fair point. I guess both are equally as important to help paint the whole picture (I suppose the picture was needed to hammer that point home ).

Moving from the paint discussion, standing reach / max vert is probably more important for centres (rim protection), wingspan is more important for guards (dribble penetration, passing lanes, etc). I'd think 65:35 importance of standing reach: wingspan for centres, kind of the inverse for PGs (still want to defend a shot at the apex, but that's less frequent).

Yes, this is the sort of opinion I was looking for. Thanks. I was curious if teams value one over the other depending on what position the player plays.

[SpursFan86]

CMB is all over the place in the mocks. from 9 to 29 (from what I saw). seems that he is trending north on some mocks. is there a reason? reports about strong work outs?

I think he’s just a really polarizing archetype. 6’7” PFs who have no jumper aren’t exactly a huge commodity in the NBA. That being said he has some serious strengths that can suck you in if you get past the undersized/non-shooting critiques.

Almost a 7’1” wingspan helps mitigate some of the height issues. He was super productive in college and generally grades very well by most metrics I’ve seen. Has shown nice flashes of playmaking so there’s the potential to still be a clear positive player offensively even if his shot never develops. He was a damn good defender at South Carolina.

I’ve seen him as high as top 4 on big boards. I don’t think he’d be a very good fit for us but in general getting a prospect of his caliber at 14 is a pretty solid deal. Ultimately a lot of his success will probably boil down to whether he ever becomes a halfway decent shooter like Draymond or Aaron Gordon managed to become.

[spurraider21]

between Topic and Traore, these european "wizards" have been very overhyped, having been billed as top 2-3 picks going into the year

[Mr. Body]

between Topic and Traore, these european "wizards" have been very overhyped, having been billed as top 2-3 picks going into the year

The shadow of Killian Hayes looms small.

[R. DeMurre]

What's more important between standing reach and wing span? Which guys in the NBA have impressive numbers in those stats?

This is always an interesting debate, and there are examples to support or refute all of the preferences. Scouts pointed out that Donovan Mitc had a 6'11" wingspan and guessed that it would make up for him being undersized as a 6'3" shooting guard, but that hasn't been the case. He's still not very good defending opposing SGs, still projects as a defensive liability at SG, and doesn't even make much of a difference if he switches to guarding PGs. Draymond Green was undersized for a combo forward at 6'6" but uses his 7'1" wingspan/8'10" standing reach to his advantage much more than most, and that allows him to play valuable minutes at center.

[R. DeMurre]

If Maluach drops down that far no way in Atlanta doesn't pull the trigger. Huge catch radius, sort of switchable on the perimeter, basically the prototype of Trae Young's perfect PNR big

I'm so glad I'm not an Atlanta fan, and never have to worry or consider what potential draft picks will pair well with Trae Young.

[mudyez]

doesn't matter the actual measurements, with only 4 digits on dude's right hand his handle is going to suck

ST is a dark place. Thank you for the laugh.

[spurraider21]

I think he’s just a really polarizing archetype. 6’7” PFs who have no jumper aren’t exactly a huge commodity in the NBA. That being said he has some serious strengths that can suck you in if you get past the undersized/non-shooting critiques.

Almost a 7’1” wingspan helps mitigate some of the height issues. He was super productive in college and generally grades very well by most metrics I’ve seen. Has shown nice flashes of playmaking so there’s the potential to still be a clear positive player offensively even if his shot never develops. He was a damn good defender at South Carolina.

I’ve seen him as high as top 4 on big boards. I don’t think he’d be a very good fit for us but in general getting a prospect of his caliber at 14 is a pretty solid deal. Ultimately a lot of his success will probably boil down to whether he ever becomes a halfway decent shooter like Draymond or Aaron Gordon managed to become.

i think CMB is the best man to man defender in this draft and im struggling to think who the close second would be. and he's very, very switchable defensively. he seems to have great feel for the game when it comes to movement, rotations, and some pretty ridiculous touch passes (his assist totals dont do his passing justice). he also has great touch around the rim, really good motor, very strong/physical player, loves playing through contact, can defend up or down. there's a ton to like with his game

but he really plays like a face up big, and is under 6'7, though he has a 7 foot wingspan. he doesnt have much shooting range beyond the FT-line, maybe out to 16-17 feet which he can pull up and get into off the dribble. he barely takes 3's and barely makes the ones he does take. and for someone who has as much touch/feel going for him, he makes virtually no use of his off-hand. if you are going to be an undersized interior player, you are going to have to be ambidextrous and craftier than he is. his right hand is simply nonexistent.

you are basically banking on him being draymond

[DPG21920]

I think he’s just a really polarizing archetype. 6’7” PFs who have no jumper aren’t exactly a huge commodity in the NBA. That being said he has some serious strengths that can suck you in if you get past the undersized/non-shooting critiques.

Almost a 7’1” wingspan helps mitigate some of the height issues. He was super productive in college and generally grades very well by most metrics I’ve seen. Has shown nice flashes of playmaking so there’s the potential to still be a clear positive player offensively even if his shot never develops. He was a damn good defender at South Carolina.

I’ve seen him as high as top 4 on big boards. I don’t think he’d be a very good fit for us but in general getting a prospect of his caliber at 14 is a pretty solid deal. Ultimately a lot of his success will probably boil down to whether he ever becomes a halfway decent shooter like Draymond or Aaron Gordon managed to become.

For every Draymond or Gordon (who took a massive leap) theres a lot of busts in that archetype

[Splits]

Sorry, couldn't find an embeddable link, but CMB shooting 3/15 from 3 in an open gym at the combine with that horrific shotput stroke is a red red flag. Bust written all over him. I don't care how good his defense is, nobody needs/deserves/wants a Sochan with astronomically worse shooting

https://www.tiktok.com/@krantzcke/vi...84327027461407

[scottspurs]

I’ve been trying to get a feel for what other teams will be doing so I’ve been looking up other teams perspectives. I just listened to the locked on Hornets podcast and these were some of their takes:

Dylan Harper will be better than Cooper Flagg. Harper is the “prize” of the draft.

They hate Khaman Maluach think he is Bismarck Biyombo 2.0

They think VJ Edgecombe is the 3rd best player in the draft.

They saw the report about Spurs being interested in Khaman Maluach and think they can trade up with the Spurs for #4 and a future unprotected 1st.

They think Harper is a terrible fit with the spurs and we would ruin his career.

They are hearing “weird things” about what the Spurs might do.

They don’t want to trade back past pick #8 because they think there is a large drop off after that point.

They don’t like the fit with Ace Bailey and the hornets

They think it’s VJ or Tre Johnson if they stay at 4 but fear it might be Kon Knueppel or Maluach.

They think a sleeper prospect at #4 or if they trade back would be Kasparas Jakucionis. They say hornet sources go silent when talking about Kas Jak much like they did with Saluan last draft.

They think Lamelo Ball is a superstar but they are ready to give up on him if he doesn’t stay healthy next season.

They love Brandon Miller but hate the rest of their roster especially Mark Williams.

[scottspurs]

Some other stuff I found from other teams:

76ers podcast said Harper is closer to Cooper Flagg as a prospect than the rest of the field is to Harper as a prospect. They think pick #3 and McCain can get them pick 2. They think Morey will only make moves that makes the team better next season and he will be short sighted because his job is on the line. They think it will be Tre Johnson at 3 or trade for a vet Star.

Jazz podcast hates VJ Edgecombe and hopes either Tre Johnson or Ace Bailey makes it 5. They don’t think pick #1 or 2 will be available for Anything other than Giannis. But they think they can trade up to #3. They really hate VJ to the point they would give up future assets to not be “stuck” with him at 5.

Wizards podcast had no clue what they will do at 6 but one of them knows a scout within the organization. He says the scout told him they know exactly who they are picking and it’s going to shock most people.

Pelican podcast I listened to seems to hate every prospect. Hates their team. Hates this draft. Hates Zion. So I didn’t really get anything out of listening to that.

Nets was the final one I listened to and they seem to love this draft and they have all sorts of scenarios lined up. From trading up to down, to getting more picks for some of their current players. Sounds like they would be happy picking 15 players in this draft and just staring from scratch lol.

[scott]

Pelican podcast I listened to seems to hate every prospect. Hates their team. Hates this draft. Hates Zion. So I didn’t really get anything out of listening to that.

What a delightful podcast

But was it still better than Locked on Spurs?

[scottspurs]

What a delightful podcast

But was it still better than Locked on Spurs?

not sure because I can only listen to about 15 seconds on locked on spurs before I’m like nope I’m out. I feel like every Spurs podcast is pretty mid though.

[scottspurs]

What a delightful podcast

But was it still better than Locked on Spurs?

not sure because I can only listen to about 15 seconds on locked on spurs before I’m like nope I’m out. I feel like every Spurs podcast is pretty mid though.